Prof. Abbas Shouman, President of the World Organization for al-Azhar Graduates and Secretary General of al-Azhar Council of Senior Scholars, stated that anyone who follows al-Azhar, the Council of Senior Scholars, al-Azhar University, curricula, and the Islamic Research Academy knows that claims made by some regarding the Shiism leanings of some of its scholars are nothing but lies and fabrications.
In a post on his official Facebook page, he pointed out that al-Azhar is a Sunni Ashari institution and has always been and will always remain so, along with all of its affiliates. He added that there is no need for outbidding, as we need unity and cohesion, not division and fragmentation.
Earlier, he stated that this is not the time to debate doctrinal or jurisprudential schools of thought, as the enemies of the nation are not fighting against any particular school of thought but rather seek to destroy the entire nation. In this regard, he hoped the nation would realize this and correct its grave mistakes.
In a separate context, he remarked that at a time when only Allah knows when global criminality will end, foolish individuals continue to wage an ideological war that he believes is definitely connected to the military one.
In another post on Facebook, he stressed that unbridled minds appear to be dragging the world toward an unknown fate, concluding the post with a prayer: “O Allah, grant us peace.” He hoped that this war would lay down its burdens, for there is no good in it for us, or it may turn against those who started it.
